Self-winding timepiece



E K R U B L SELF WINDING TIMEPIECE Filed July 25 Patented Apr. 7, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LOUIS BURKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO REYNOLDS WATCH CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION F .DELAXVARE SELF-WINIDING TIMEPIECE Application filed July 2G,

piece which will function more reliably than timepieces of such nature heretofore known with a minimum of wear, and the provision of improved over-winding mechanism.

Various types of self-winding timepieces have heretofore been known which have been provided with mechanism intended to prevent over-winding thereof. Such overwinding mechanism, however, has not been generally satisfactory because of its unre- 2o liability and because of strain occasioned the parts when the over-winding mechanism comes into action.

I provide a selfewinding timepiece comprising a pendulum, a spring arbor rotatable upon oscillation of the pendulum, a lateral extension connected with the arbor, and means operable by such extension upon rotation of the arbor to stop the pendulum when the timepiece is sufficiently wound. I

eo further provide a self-winding timepiece comprising a pendulum, winding means operated thereby, a Geneva movement connected with the winding means, and stop means controlled by the Geneval movement for preventing over-winding of the timepiece.

Other objects and advantages of the inven tion will become apparent as the following description of a present preferred embodi- 0 ment thereof proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown a present preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein Figure 1 is al plan view of a timepiece;

Figure 2 is a plan view to enlarged scale of a portion of the mechanism shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the line III- III of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a cross section through the time- 1929. Serial No. 381,146.

piece taken substantially at right angles to that of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross section similar to Figure 4L, but showing the parts in a different position, and

Figure 6 is a cross section to smaller scale through a completed timepiece.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, reference numeral 2 designates a case in which is centrally pivoted at 3 a pendulum t. The pendulum is provided with antifriction rollers 5 adapted to ride on portions of the case to maintain the pendulum in proper position while in use and also to reduce the friction of the movement. The case 2 is provided with a base plate 6, to which is connected the timepiece movement, a dial 7 being painted on the outside of the base plate. A front bezel 8 is screwed to the case and holds a crystal 9. A central post 10 carries the hands 11 and 12, respectively. A detachable snap closure 13 is provided for the back of the timepiece, the anti-friction rollers 5 of the pendulum being adapted to roll against the closure 13 when the latter is in place. Thus, regardless of the position of the watch, the anti-friction rollers 5 are always in contact either with the base plate 6 or with the snap closure 13. The clearance between the anti-friction rollers 5 and the closure 13 is exaggerated in Figure 6. This clearance is actualiy only a few thousandths of an inch, or sufficient to permit removal replacement of the snap closure 13 without causing binding of the pendulum.

Keyed to the post 10 is a bevel gear 14. Mounted in suitable bearings 15 and 16 connected to the base plate 6 is a setting shaft 17 having a bevel pinion 18 meshing with the gear 14. Keyed to the opposite end of the shaft 17 is a setting wheel 19 by which the watch may be set. The shaft 17 is always positively geared to the hands of the watch through the pinion 18 and gear 14, so that the setting wheel 19 always rotates with the hands, thus eliminating any clutch connection between the setting wheel and the hands. The setting wheel is readily accessible by re- .moving the front bezel 8.

At the extremities of its movement, the

pendulum 4 strikes against stops 2O which are resiliently mounted in the frame against coil springs 2l. This relieves the pendulum and connected mechanism of any j ars or jolts at the extremities of its stroke.

Looselyr mounted on the pivot 3 is a gear 22. Pivoted to the pendulum at 23 is a pawl 24 resiliently urged into engagement with the teeth of the gear 22 by a spring 25. hlreshing with-the-gear'22 isa second gear 26 l'ieyet to shaft 27 to which is also keyed a pinion 28. The pinion 28 meshes with a gear 29 keyed to a shaft 30, to which is also keyed a pinion 31. The pinion 31 meshes with a gear 32 rigidly connected with the main spring arbor 33 of the timepiece.

A plate 34 is provided to which is pivoted at 35 a pawl36 urged into meshwith the teeth of: the gear 25 by a spring 37. Thus, .viewing Figure l, when the pendulum 4 moves in a clock Tise vdirectionaboutits pivot 3, the vpawl 24 rides overthe-teeth of thev gear 22: On the `return movement, however, the pawl 24, acting against the teeth of the-gear 22, operates torotate such gear in the manner of a ratchet. Thus, upon oscillation of the pendulum, the gear 22'is positively moved intermittently in a counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 3. This counter-clockwise movementL of the gear 22 causes clockwise movement ofthe gear 26. The pawl 36 prevents retrograde movement of vthe gears 22 and 26.

A main spring 38 is connected in theusual manner with the arbor 33, so lthat clockwise movementV ofthe arbor, such as will beimparted to it by oscillation of the pendulum acting through the train of gears above'described, will cause winding of the spring. The spring is connected in the kusual manner with a barrel 39having integral therewith a 40. The tension'of the spring urges the barrel in a clockwiseV direction, viewing Figures l and 2. The gear 440 meshes with a n 1 v f 1 1. J2 gear (not shown) Keyed to the post L0 loi rotating the'hands of the timepiece.

Pivo-ted to the main spring barrel 39 at 4l is a modified' Geneva' wheel 42.k Themain spring arbor 33V h'asa vertically hollowed-out portion 43 and is provided'with an outwardly-projecting pin 44. The Geneva wheel 42 has three teeth45, 46 and 47, respectively. Each ofth'ese teeth has a hollow periphery adapted to lie against thev surface of the arbor 33. Normally, rotationof 'the'arbor has no effect on the Geneval wheel, but when the pin 44Yente-r's the cavityfb'etween ladjacent' teeth ofi the wheel', it" causes countereclockwise movement thereof duringv the time the pinis in engagement' withatooth of the wheel, so that the Geneva' wheeladvances one tooth for every revolution'of the arbor.

The Geneva'whee'l 42'is provided with an inclined cam surfacef48^forfa purpose to be presentlyrdeseribed. Surrounding-the arbor 33 is a collar 49 having a tapered undersurface 50. Fastened to the frame at 5l and loosely embracing the arbor 33 above the colf lar 49 is a spring lever 52 having an upstanding stop 53 at its outer extremity. rThe spring lever 52 does not Contact with the arbor, but has a hole in it larger than the arbor, so that the arbor passes freely through the hole in the spring lever. The collar 49, however, closely embraces the arbor and is free to-move axially thereof. It will be seen that axial movement of the collar 49 causes movement of the spring lever 52 so as to change the elevation of the stop 53 at its extremity.

Pivoted to the pendulum 4 at 54 is a catch 55 having a curved arm 5G provided with a series of detente 57. The catch 55 is also provided with a short arm 58against which bears a spring 59, thus urging the catch in a counter-clockwise direction aboutI its pivot 54. Movement of the catch, however, is limited by a stop pin 60 at the opposite side of the arm 58. The stop 53 on the spring lever 52 is so positioned that when itisraised by axial movement of the collar `49'with respect to the arbor 33, the stop will engage one of the detents 57 in the Curved arm 56 of the catch, thereby stopping the pendulum.v

The operation'of the mechanism above described is as follows: Due to the'movement of the body of the wearer of the timepiece, the pendulum 4 is oscillated about its-pivot 3. This oscillation, as explained, causes intermittent counter-clockwise movement ofy the gear 22,- which movement is imparted through theV gear train to the main spring arbor 33. When the timepiece is fairly well-run down, the parts will be substantially in the position shown in Figures l and 2. Continuedoseillation of the pendulum causes continued clockwise rotation'of the arbor and, consequently, of the pin 44; Thismovement ofthe Ypin44 causes rotation of the Geneva wheelA 42 through oney tooth for every revolution ofthe arbor, as above explained. When thespring is becoming fairly well wound, the' pin 44 will be between the tooth247 of Ithe Geneva wheel and the camportion 48 thereof. Y Further rotation of the arborbrings the Camportion 48 into contact with the tapered ylower surface 50 of the collar 49, thereby raising such collar axially of the arbor andconse quentlyyalso raising the spring lever 52 and bringing the stop 53`closer to the catch 55. lhen the spring is completely'wo'und, the stop 53 engages one of the 'detente-57 of the catch 55, thereby locking the pendulum and preventing further winding of-the timepiece until :ith'as run down sufficiently fort the stop 53 tobecome disengaged with' the detent 57, as will beI presently ldescribed.l

The catch 55 is provided with a series-of detente 57 so that4 one of-such detents'will engage with the stop 53 when the stop is in its upper position, even thoughv the'V pendu-lum may not oscillate through its entire range. During certain movements of the body of the wearer, the pendulum may oscillate through only a portion of its range, which might have the effect of over-winding the spring if continued for any appreciable period, unless some means were provided for stopping such part-oscillations. By reason of the provision of a series of. detents on the catch 55, the pendulum is locked even though its oscillation be only through a very small portion of its range.

As above mentioned, the tension of the spring 38 causes clockwise movement of the barrel 39 and, consequently, the gear 40, viewing Figures l and 2. When the pendulum is locked, such clockwise movement of the barrel will occur while the arbor is not rotating. rPhe effect of this movement is to cause the disengagement of the cam surface 48 on the Geneva wheel 42 with the collar 49, thereby freeing the pendulum for further oscillation.

Vhile I have shown and described a present preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the same is not limited thereto, but may be otherwise variously embodied within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a self-winding timepiece, a case, a pendulum oscillatably mounted therein, the pendulum having anti-friction rollers for cooperation with the case, and winding means connected with the pendulum.

2. In a self-winding timepiece, a case, a pendulum oscillatably mounted therein, antiriction rollers interposed between the case and the pendulum whereby direct contact between the case and the pendulum is prevented, and winding means connected with the pendulum.

3. In a self-winding timepiece, a case, a

f pendulum therein carrying anti-friction rollers whose diameter is greater than the thickness of the pendulum, and winding means connected with the pendulum.

4. In a self-winding timepiece, a case, a pendulum therein, a detachable closure for the case, and anti-friction means interposed between the case and the pendulum and adapted to cooperate with the detachable closure when in place.

5. A self-winding time piece comprising a spring, a spring barrel, an arbor, a winding means, a Geneva wheel mounted on the spring barrel and adapted to be carried around the arbor as the spring barrel rotates, a pin on the arbor adapted to engage the teeth of the Geneva wheel, the Geneva wheel and the pin being fixed against relative axial movement, a cam on the Geneva Wheel, and an arm extending over the spring barrel and movable toward and away from the barrel, the arm being effective by such movement for checking or freeing the winding means, the arm having a cam engaging lface makina direct engagement with the cam when the Geneva wheel has been turned on its axis so as to bring about such engagement.

6. A self-winding time piece comprising a spring, aspring barrel, an arbor, a winding means, a Geneva wheel mounted on the spring barrel and adapted to be carried around the arbor as the spring barrel rotates, a pin on the arbor adapted to engage the teeth of the Geneva wheel, the Geneva wheel and the pin being fixed against relative axial movement, a cam on the Geneva wheel, and an arm extending over the spring barrel and movable toward and away from the barrel, the arm being effective by such movement for checking or freeing the winding means, the arm having an opening therethrough through which the arbor extends, the arm having a cam engaging face adjacent the opening and presenting substantially the same inclination at all points around the arbor, said face making direct engagement with the cam when the Geneva wheel has been turned on its axis so as to bring about such engagement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

LOUIS BURKE. 

